Casting machine



May 22, 1951 w. N. BRAMMER CASTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. l5, 1949 May 22,- 1951 w. N. BRAMMER 2,553,744

CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1'5, 1'9'45 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 "nllh i) N y @25% {MM/5,

May '22, 1951 w. N. BRAMMER 2,553,744

CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 o /NVEH fr Milla/72 Namime by v@ May 22, 1951 w. N. BRAMMER 2,553,744

CASTING MACHINE May 22,` 1951 w. N. ERAMMER 2,553,744

CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. l5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 n@ zmf y@ and operation which is to provide a novel method of casting 'a semi-automatic control cycle.

Patented May 22, .1951

CASTING MACHINE William N. Brammer, St.. Joseph, Mich., assignor to Nylen Products Com a corporation of Michi pany, St. Joseph, Mich., gan

Application January 15, 1949, Serial No. I71,100

Claims. l

'I'his invention relates to a casting machine. More particularly it has to do with a semi-automatic casting machine using permanent molds and cores and having Anovel features of design permit ecient casting of metals.

Casting machines have heretofore been used which employ a split .mold having the portions of the mold slidable in ways toward or away from each other for making or breaking the mold. These casting machines have enjoyed a limited degree of success. However, they are usually complicated machines and are seldom adapted to efficient production casting.

According to the features of the present invention there is provided a casting machine in which a two piece permanent mold is used. O-ne portion is rotatably mounted on a shaft journaled in a housing rigidly secured to an upright wall member. The second portion of the mold is mounted for rotation in ahousing rigidly secured to a pivoting arm which is effective to move the second portion into and out of aligned engagement with the rst portion.

When the two portions of the mold are aligned in an inverted position they dene an upper cavity, in which permanent type cores are clamped, and a lower metal receiving cavity. After the mold is assembled, a pneumatically operated mechanism rotates it through 180 to the pouring position. Rotation of the mold starts a timing mechanism which rotates the mold 180 back to the Aassembly position after a predetermined pouring and solidifying period.

When the cores have been removed from the mold, a power'cylinder pivots the movable portion of the mold away from the pouring station, permitting easy removal of the casting.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a casting machine that is simple in construction and operation and lends itself readily to production casting.

Another object of this invention is to provide a casting machine having a power actuated mechanism for rotating the mold from an assembly position to a pouring position and return -it to the assembly position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a casting machine employing a split mold in which one portion of the mold is stationary while the other portion is mounted for pivoting Atoward and away from the first portion.

Another and further object of this invention including Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings.

On the drawings: f

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a casting machine constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the casting machine of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of this machine.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary end sectional view taken on line LV-IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line V--V of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Figure 5 but showing the mold after it has been rotated to the pouring position which is from that position shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Figure 6 but showing the mold rotated to the assembly position.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of a piston which has been cast in the casting machine constructed according to the features of the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

The casting machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings employs a mold and cores which are particularly adapted for casting pistons and it will be described as used for this purpose. However it will be understood that various other types of castings may be formed in this casting machine merely byl substituting the correct molds and cores.

In Figures 1 and 2 the reference numeral I0 indicates the frame of this machine having a base II defined by side walls I2 and I3 and end walls I4 and I5. Connector plates I6 are suitably secured, as by welding, across the corners of the base frame members to rigidify the structure.

The end wall I4 extends upwardly from the base portion, being braced by side plates I8 and receiving at its upper end an ear member I9 which is secured, as by welding, to the inner side of the wall I4 midway between the side walls I2`and I3.

A supporting cross wall 20 is secured between the walls I2 and I3 at a point spaced from the end wall l5. This wall 28 is provided with reinforcing ribs 2| and 22 and also is braced by two rods 23 which extend longitudinally of the casting machine and are secured at the opposite end to a plate 24 which is secured to the end wall I4. At the upper end of the support wall 20 there is provided a ilat table-like portion 25.

At either side of the base of this machine a plate portion 21, integrally formed with the side walls I2 and I3, extends inwardly therefrom to provide a support for a journal block 28 which has longitudinal apertures 29 therethrough. A pivoting arm 38, having a lower cylindrical journal portion 3l and a substantially triangular shaped body portion 32, is pivotally mounted on a rod 54 which extends through the journal blocks 28 and the cylindrical journal portion 3l of the pivot arm. At the upper end of the pivotable arm 39 there is formed a cylindrical housing member 35 which has a central longitudinal aperture.

TheI movements of the pivoted arm 39 are controlled by a power cylinder 38 which may be operated by air under pressure which enters said cylinder at either end through inlet lines 31 and 38 which are controlled by a hand operated valve 39 disposed in a housing 48 which also receives a line 4I leading to a source of air under pressure. The power cylinder 38 has a piston rod 42 extending from one end thereof which is pivotally connected on a pin 43 to the arm 38. The cylinder 36 is also provided at one end with ear portions 45 which have openings 45 arranged to receive a pivot pin 41 which also extends through the ear I9 secured to the end wall I4.

Thus when the handle 39 is thrown in one direction air under pressure is directed from the line 4l through the line 31 to one end of the power cylinder 36 to move the piston rod 42 outwardly of the cylinder and pivot the arm. 39 into its upper position as seen in Figure 2. When the lever 39 is thrown in the opposite direction the supply of air is vented from the line 31 and the line 38 is connected with the inlet line 4l and air under pressure is introduced to the opposite end of the cylinder to retract the rod 42 and draw the pivoted arm 38 downwardly to the dotted position as shown in Figure .2.

The valve 4U may be mounted on an upstanding arm member 48 which is secured to the vside wall I3 of the base.

As best seen in Figure a shaft 5D is journaled in the housing 35 on bearings 5I. The housing has end cap members 52 containing oil seals 53 arranged to prevent oil from moving along the shaft out of the housing. The shaft 58 has an end portion 54 outside of the housing which is of generally rectangular shape and extends laterally of the casting machine Figure 1. The end member 54 fits into a groove 55 cut in one portion 55 of a split mold assembly 51. A plurality of bolts 58 secure the mold portion 51 to the end 54.

A second shaft 68 is disposed for rotation on bearing assembly 6l in a hollow cylindrical housing 82 which is secured to the table-like portion 25 of the upstanding support member 29. The shaft 80 has a laterally extending, generally rectangular end portion 84 which is secured in a groove 65 of the other portion 58 of the split mold assembly.

It will be seen that the permanent mold assembly 51 is made up of two members which are secured to rotatable shafts. The shaft S8 is rotated by means of a pneumatic power cylinder 68 (Figures 3 and 4) which is supplied with air under pressure through lines 89 Vand 18. Delivery of 4 air under pressure to lines 69 and 18 is controlled by a valve 1I which is operated by a solenoid 12 through a linkage 13. A line 14, also connected through the switch 1l, is connected to a source of air under pressure.

A rack 16 is secured to the end of the piston rod 11 of the power cylinder 68. The rack 18 is in mesh with the teeth of a gear 19 Figure 4 which is secured to or integrally formed with a reduced end portion of the shaft 68. When power is applied to one end of the cylinder 68 the rack 18 is moved to the left as seen in Figure 4 to rotate the shaft 80 and thereby move the mold from the assembly position shown in Figure 5 to the pouring position shown in Figure 6. When .power is applied to the other end of the power cylinder 68 the action is reversed and the mold is rotated back to the assembly position.

It will be recognized that after casting has been poured and the mold is ready for rotation back to the assembly position, the mold assembly will be in a top heavy condition since the major portion of the weight of the mold and the casting itself is above the pivot axis of the casting machine. Thus it is necessary only to move the mold assembly slightly from the vertical to permit the weight of the assembly to swing it around to the assembly position. It is therefore necessary to provide a shock absorber assembly 82 which will resist this downward pivoting of the mold sufficiently to slow the movement up and prevent the mold from pivoting past the assembly position. This shock absorber assembly 82 comprises a hollow cylindrical casing 83 in which a coil spring 84 is disposed around a shaft 85. The shaft 85 has, at one end, a head portion 86 against which the spring 84 is bottomed and at the other end an eye portion 81 pivotally disposed over a pin 88 which is threaded into a rectangular plate 89 that is pinned to a reduced portion 99 of the shaft 68.' The lower end of the shock absorber is pivotally connected to a bracket 9| which is threaded into an angle support brace 92.

In Figure 3 the mold assembly is shown in the assembly position and Athus the spring 84 has been compressed by the upward movement of the shaft 85 as the plate 89 was rotated. When the power cylinder 68 is next actuated, the coiled spring 84 will assist the rack 18 in rotating the mold assembly to the upright pouring position.

As may be seen in Figures l and 2, the mold sections 56 and 86 are vmated in their assembly position on a parting plane which passes through the pivot rod 34 about which the arm 30 rotates. As this parting plane is normal to the journal axes of the mold sections, 'the axis of rotation of the arm member is likewise normal or perpendicular to the common journal axis. -When the Vfaces of the two mold sections are brought into contact with each other by actuation of the power cylinder 36, the pressure between the mold sections is normal to their parting plane.

The two sections 56 and 66 of the mold assembly are identical except that they have oppositely disposed elements. In Figures 6 and 8 the mold section 56 is illustrated. The mold section is a substantially rectangular block member having a semi-cylindrical cavity disposed in aligned relation along one side of the mold. Between these semi-cylindrical openings there is formed a shoulder 91. In a direction longitudinally of the casting machine the mold section 51 is provided with an aperture 98 (Figure 5) in which a sleeve portion 99 is disposed. This sleeve there is deiined by the semi-cylindrical openings therein, a pair of aligned semi-cylindrical apertures through the mold in a vertical direction. The wrist pin core apertures 98 in each mold section are of course aligned so that the wrist pin ,holes in the piston will be aligned.

For the purpose of aligning the two mold sections 56 and 66 there is provided, on each side Aof the section 66, a plate |03 that has a V-shaped notch 03a arranged to receive the V-shaped-end of an alignment dowel |04 that is adjustably mounted on each side of the mold section 51.

A three piece core assembly |05 is used in this casting machine. As best seen in Figures 5 and 7 the core assembly |05 comprises two side members |06 and |01 and a central member |08. The

central member |08 is in turn made up of three portions |080, |080 and |080. The side core ,members |08 and |07 are identical, but oppositely disposed, and are of generally segmental circular cross-section having an inwardly stepped construction at their lower end. Each core has a wall portion l l0, Figure 5, which coacts with the wall of the mold to determine the thickness of the piston wall and a second wall portion ||2 which determines the depth of the wrist pin boss inwardly of the piston. At the extreme lower end of each of the side core members |06 and |01 there is provided a plurality of spaced 1in members ||3 which are effective to form reinforcing ribs on the interior of the piston.

The central core member |08 has slanted wall portions ||4 which engage slanted wall portions of the side core members and, when the central member |08 is pushed downwardly, the side core members tend to expand and move into correct position in the mold.

The central portion |080, of FigureS, of the center core |08, has a wedged shaped configuration with inwardly and downwardly slanted wall portions which engage the slanted walls of the portions |08a and |080 and urge them outwardly -as the center member is pushed downwardly.

The side members 08a and |880 have a generally Yrectangular configuration in a horizontal plane and are provided at their lower end with various shoulder portions which cooperate with the wall of the mold to deiine the contour" of the inner -wall of the piston. A shoulder portion I5, Figure 8, formed on the members |08@ and |080, is arranged to rest on the shoulder 9'! formed in the cylindrical cavity of the mold. Thus the positioning of the core axially of the cylindrical opening of the mold is determined by this shoulder engagement. The center portion |080 of the core |08 also has a generally rectangular cross-section in a horizontal plane but has inwardly and downwardly slanted wall portions which engage the sides of the core members and urge them outwardly to position in the mold` cavity. It will be noted in Figure 6 that when Vthe inner member |0817 is pressed downwardly Ainto the mold the side members |08a and |080 ,are urged against the side walls of the cylindrical .cavity defined by the semi-cylindrical cavities |02 in the mold sections. Thus the positioning of .of the casting.

which are threaded into the top surfaces of the side core members |080 and |080.

It will be seen in Figure 8 that, before the side core members |08a and |080 of the center core |08 can be removed from the mold after the casting has'solidied, they must be pivoted inwardly so that the irregular shoulder portions lat the lower end will be clear of the ridges formed in the inner surface of the piston. This operation is provided for by means of slots |25 disposed in the side walls of the center member |0819 which receives the heads |26 of set screws |21 which are threaded into the side members |08a and |880.

In Figure 8 the center member |080 of the center corer|08- has been moved upwardly and the side members |0811 and |080 have been moved inwardly so that they are ready to be moved out In the position illustrated in Figure 8 of the cover ||1 is engaging the heads of the bolts |22 preparatory to pulling the side core portions |08a and |080 out of the mold. Thus the center unit |08 may be retracted bodily from the mold as a unit.

A plate-like member |29 is secured by means of screws |30 to one face of each mold section. These plates have cooperating recessed portions |33 which coact to define a gate into which the molten metal is poured for direction into the mold.

In order to clamp the cores tightly in the mold there is provided an assembly |35, Figure 3, which includes an arm |36, Figure l, which is pivotally mounted on the mold section 51 at one side thereof and has at its other end a bifurcated end portion |38. A locking lever |39 having an upper portion adjustably threaded on a shank |4| is pivotally mounted on the other side of the mold section 57 and is arranged to be pivoted through the bifurcated end of the lever |36 to lock the lever in position. The lever |36 is provided with a downward projection |42, Figures 6 and 8, which bears on the top of the core and urges it downwardly.

As previously mentioned, after the casting has been poured and has solidified for a predetermined period, the mold is automatically rotated to the assembly position. This automatic operation is accomplished by means of a control box |45, Figure 3, which contains suitable timing mechanisms for actuating the solenoid '|2 at the proper time.

A control button |49 is mounted at the end of the casting machine adjacent the power cylinder 36 on an upright post |50. This control button, when pressed by the operator, actuates the solenoid l2 to rotate the mold from the assembly position seen in Figure 2 to the pouring position of Figure 6.

The casting machine of this invention is put into operation in the following manner. The casting cycle begins with the pivoted arm 30 in the retracted position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The operator actuates the control valve 39 to direct air under pressure through the line 3'! to one endl of the power cylinder 36 and thus moves the pivoted arm with the attached eis-saam 7 mold section 56 into aligned engagement with the other mold section 66. It is to be noted that the air pressure on this cylinder 36 will hold the mold sections in aligned clamped position during the casting operation. The side cores |06 and |01 are then positioned in the mold cavity on the shoulder 91 of the mold. The center core member |98 is then inserted between the side core members and pressed downwardly into position. As the center portion |090 of the center core |98 moves downwardly into place, the side portions |880 and |0841 are expanded outwardy to engage the sides of the mold and, since the center core |08 as a unit has tapered sides, the side core members |01 and |06; are also moved outwardly into their correct position in the mold. The clamp |35 is then locked in position over the cores urging the cores tightly into the mold. The wrist pin hole insert cores are now inserted in the bushings 90 in the wall of the mold.

When the mold is thus assembled the operator pushes the button |49 which actuates the solenoid 'l2 and causes the rack, connected to the piston rod of the power cylinder G8, to rotate the mold 5I to the pouring position, seen in Figure 6. The mold is held in the pouring position during the pouring operation due to the pressure in the air cylinder 68. Molten metal is poured into the gate |33 and flows downwardly around the cores and forms the piston.

.When the operator pushes the button |49 to cause rotation of the mold from the assembly position to the pouring position, the timer control |45 was energized so that the timing cycle began. After a -predetermined time interval has elapsed, which covers the time required for pouring the molten metal into the mold and for solidifyng of the metal in the mold, the control |45 de-energizes the solenoid 'I2 causing the switch l| to vent the air from the line 'l0 and introduce air under pressure to the line 69 which results in the rack I6 rotating the mold in an opposite direction 180 to the initial assembly position.

To remove the casting from the mold the wrist pin cores |00 are removed from the bushing 99 and the clamp |35 is removed from the top of the mold. The cores are then removed. It will be noted that the center core |08 must first be removed in order that the side cores |06 and |01 may be moved radially inwardly to permit their lower shoulder portions to be free of the irregular ring-like shoulders `formed on the inside of the piston. Also it will be seen in Figure 8 that the center portion |0819 of the center core |08 must be pulled upwardly before the side portions Nida and ic can be removed since they too must be moved radially inwardly to permit removal from the casting. Thus the center portion Kleb is iirst pulled out and after it moves upwardly a distance determined by the length of the rods 22 the side portions |08a and |380 are automatically drawn inwardly by means of the screws |26 so that they clear the sides of the piston. Then the center core |08 is removed as a unit. When the center core is removed, the side cores |06 and lli? are moved radially inwardly and are removed from the mold. Then the operator actuates the valve 39 to vent air from the line 3'! and introduce air under pressure to the line 38 which actuates the piston in the air cylinder 36 and retracts the pivotable arm with the attached mold section 5B to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. The casting may then be removed from the mold section 66 by: a slight jarring movement.

T-h'e casting machine is then in starting position ready for the next casting cycle.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided in this invention a simple casting machine which may be eniciently operated by a relatively unskilled operator. It is contemplated that one 'operator will be able to service at least two of these machines since after the molten metal is poured into the mold the operator need not return to the scene until the mold has been rotated to its original assembly position.

This machine features a power cylinder for rotating the mold to the forward position and back to the assembly position. Alsol this casting machine features the use or" a two part mold, one part of which is pivotable toward and away from the other stationary lpart,

It will of course be understood that although I have resorted to details in the description of my invention for the sake of clarity, it will be under'- stood that the present embodiment is shown by way of example only, and, therefore, it should be understood that I desire to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and prior art.

I claim:

l. In a support for a two-section permanen mold of the type which is assembled and disassembled in upright position and is charged in inverted position, a frame, a first bearing in said frame having a rst mold section rotatably mounted therein, a pivot carried on said frame in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said first bearing, an arm mounted on said pivot for movement toward and away from said first mold section, and a second bearing in said arm having a second mold section rotatably mounted therein, said second bearing being positioned in said arm on a common axis with said first bearing when the faces of the two mold sections Ycontact each other.

2. In a support for a two-section permanent mold of the type which is assembled and disassembled .in upright position and is charged in inverted position, a frame, a iirst bearing in said frame, a pivot on said frame, an arm mounted on said pivot, a second bearing in said arm positioned to lie on a common axis with said first bearing in one position of said arm, iirst and second mold sections 'rotatably mounted in said bearings with their faces contacting each other on a parting 'plane when said bearings lie on the common axis, said pivot lying in said parting plane, and power cylinder means pivotally connected to said support structure and said arm member to press said mold sections together during pouring operations.

3. In a support for a two-section permanent mold of the type which is assembled and disassembled in upright position and is charged in inverted position, a frame, a first bearing in said frame having a first mold section rotatably mounted therein, a pivot carried on said frame in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said iirst bearing, an arm mounted on said pivot, a second bearing in said arm having a second mold section rotatably mounted therein, said second bearing being positioned in said arm to have a common axis with said first bearing when the faces of the two mold sections contact each other, power means operatively connected to one of said mold sections to rotate said mold sections from their upright position to their inverted position, and 'means'operatively connected between one of said mold sections and its bearing to restrain movement of said mold sections to their inverted position.

4. In a support for a two-section permanent mold of the type which is assembled and disassembled in upright position and is charged in inverted position, a frame, a rst bearing in said frame, a pivot on said frame, an arm mounted on said pivot, a second bearing in said arm positioned to lie on a common axis with said rst bearing in one position of said arm, and rst and second mold sections rotatably mounted in said bearings with their faces contacting each other in a parting plane perpendicular to said common axis when said mold sections are moved to lie thereon, said pivot lying in said parting plane.

5. A casting machine comprising a two-section permanent mold of the type which is assembled and disassembled in upright position and is poured in inverted position, a frame, a bearing in said frame having a rst mold section rotatably mounted therein, a pivot on said frame, an arm mounted on said pivot, and a second bearing in said arm having a second mold section rotatably mounted therein, said bearings being positioned to have coincident horizontal axes when the faces of the two mold sections contact each other, said mold sections being faced to contact on a parting plane perpendicular to the coincident axes, said 10 pivot extending horizontally in said parting plane beneath said mold sections, whereby said second mold section will move in a downward arc when said arm is moved away from said first mold section.

WILLIAM N. BRAMMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

